Articulated arm robot-type device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an articulated arm robot for handling a payload, comprising a robot arm (R), which is attached to a base ( 1 ) that can be rotated about a first axis (A 1 ), and at least two arm elements ( 2  and  3 ), which are arranged to form a kinematic chain and a first arm element ( 2 ) is mounted on the base ( 1 ) to pivot about a second axis (A 2 ) that is oriented orthogonally relative to the first axis and a second arm element ( 3 ) which is attached to the first arm to be pivotal manner about a third axis (A 3 ) that is oriented parallel to the second axis (A 2 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention pertains to an articulated arm robot-type device for handling a payload, wherein said device comprises a robot arm, which is mounted on a base that is rotatable about a first axis, at least two arm elements, which are serially arranged behind one another in the form of a kinematic chain, as well as a central hand attached to the end of the kinematic chain. A first of the two serially arranged arm elements is mounted on the base pivotally about a second axis that is oriented orthogonal to the first axis whereas the second arm element is attached to the first arm element pivotally about a third axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis. A linear actuator realized in the form of a spindle drive is respectively provided for pivoting both arm elements and comprises a motor-driven spindle nut unit that is engaged with a spindle in the form of a threaded rod, wherein this threaded rod is mounted pivotally about a pivoting axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis.

PRIOR ART

Articulated arm robots are versatile and widely used industrial, robots, the kinematics of which are composed of several arm elements that are connected to one another in an articulated fashion in order to position end effectors such as, e.g., grippers or tools. Among the variety of potential robot designs, the robots with the highest mobility and flexibility are those with serial kinematics, i.e. each arm element only is serially connected to another arm element. However, such articulated arm robots are limited with respect to their load carrying capacity on the arm end due to the necessity to carry along drives and power transmission systems, as well as with respect to the positioning accuracy due to the cumulative effect of tolerances along the kinematic chain.

Publication WO 84/02301 describes a typical so-called six-axis vertical articulated arm robot, the first arm element of which is pivotally attached to a base, which is mounted rotatably about a first axis, with one end. The first axis corresponds to the vertical axis and the pivoting axis, about which the first arm element is pivotally mounted, is referred to as the second axis and oriented orthogonal to the first axis, i.e. horizontally. One end of the second arm element is likewise connected to the other end of the first arm element, which lies opposite of the base, in a pivotal fashion, namely about a third pivoting axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis. A central hand, which is mounted rotatably about three axes and serves for picking up and manipulating workpieces, is ultimately arranged on the end of the second arm element lying opposite of the third axis.

A hydraulic cylinder unit is arranged between the base and the first arm element in order to realize a controlled motion of the first arm element about the second, horizontally oriented pivoting axis. A corresponding second hydraulic unit, which ensures a controlled pivoting motion of the second arm element about the third axis, supported on the first arm element on the one hand and connected to the second arm element on the other hand.

A very similar design for realizing a vertical articulated arm robot is disclosed in publication EP 0 243 362 E1 and likewise features a vertical articulated arm robot with two arm elements that are connected to one another in an articulated fashion, wherein a more elaborate actuator-gear construction is used for respectively pivoting the two arm elements about the horizontally oriented second and third axes in order to increase the operating range and the load carrying capacity of the robot. Two cylinder units are provided for this purpose, wherein these cylinder units are connected to one another by means of a pivotally mounted yoke and therefore responsible for pivoting the first arm element about the second axis and for pivoting the second arm element about the third axis in a coordinated fashion. An additional power arm is pivotally coupled to the second arm element, in particular, in order to pivot the second arm element about the third axis, wherein this additional power arm extends parallel to the first arm element in order to realize a so-called “parallelogram gear,” into which one of these two cylinder units is kinematically incorporated.

Publication U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,043 likewise discloses a vertical articulated arm robot, in which a motor-driven parallelogram gear is provided for moving the second arm element.

Publication DE 10 2011 087 958 A1 describes a modern industrial welding robot in the form of an articulated arm robot, the motion of which is realized by integrating electromotive drives with a compact design within the respective rotational and pivoting axes, but the maximum payload weight of the robot, as well as the operating range accessible to the robot, is limited as initially mentioned due to the own weight of the installed components, particularly the electromotive drives.

Publication DE 11 2006 001 920 134 discloses an articulated arm robot with two parallel kinematics, wherein this articulated arm robot is mounted on a base, which is rotatable about a vertical first axis, and features two arm elements, which are arranged behind one another in the form of a kinematic chain, wherein a first arm element is mounted on the base pivotally about a second axis that is oriented orthogonal to the first axis, and wherein a second arm element is attached to the first arm element pivotally about a third axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis. A central hand is attached to the end of the kinematic chain. A first linear actuator is provided for pivoting the first arm element about the second axis and functionally connected to the base on the one hand and to the first arm element on the other hand by means of a first coupling gear. A second linear actuator is provided for pivoting the second arm element about the third axis and functionally connected to the base, the first arm element and the second, arm element by means of a second coupling gear. Both linear actuators are respectively realized in the form of a spindle drive and feature a motor-driven spindle nut unit that is engaged with a spindle in the form of a threaded rod, wherein said spindle is mounted pivotally about a pivoting axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis. The coupling gears respectively feature rods with a constant length that are connected and pivotally coupled in such a way that a holding force or counterforce required for absorbing a load engaging on a movable part of the kinematics remains largely independent of the motion of the kinematics in space.

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention is based on the objective of enhancing an articulated arm robot-type device for handling a payload, which comprises a robot arm mounted on a base that is rotatable about a first axis, at least two arm elements serially arranged behind one another in the form of a kinematic chain, as well as a central hand attached to the end of the kinematic chain, and in which a first of the two serially arranged arm elements is mounted on the base pivotally about a second axis that is oriented orthogonal to the first axis whereas the second arm element, is attached to the first arm element pivotally about a third axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis, in such a way that the maximum payload of the robot, as well as its operating range, is significantly improved, i.e. increased, in comparison with comparable robot systems known far.

The above-defined objective of the invention is attained with the characteristics disclosed in claim 1. Characteristics for advantageously enhancing the inventive idea form the object of the dependent claims and are elucidated below, particularly with reference to exemplary embodiments.

Based on the inventive construction concept for a robot in the form of a vertical articulated arm robot, in which the actuation of its pivotally mounted arm elements is respectively realized by utilizing a linear actuator that is functionally connected to a coupling gear, a robot realized in accordance with the invention is able to position payloads, which are up to three-times heavier than those of the most powerful vertical articulated arm robot arrangements currently available on the market, within a nearly doubled operating range in all six degrees of freedom.

According to the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1, the inventive articulated arm robot-type device is for this purpose realized in such a way that the first coupling gear is pivotally and functionally connected to the motor-driven spindle nut unit of the first linear actuator by means of a first universal joint and the second coupling gear is pivotally and functionally connected to the motor-driven spindle nut of the second linear actuator by means of a second universal joint. The first and the second universal joint respectively have a pivoting axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis, as well as a pivoting axis that is oriented orthogonal to the second axis. The second coupling gear respectively features a first coupling means that transmits tensile and compressive forces, as well as a second coupling means. The first coupling means is realized as a ternary gear element in the form of a rigid triangular structure, on the corners of which the first coupling means is pivotally mounted about a pivoting axis. In this way, the coupling means is connected to the spindle nut unit pivotally about a first pivoting axis, which corresponds to a pivoting axis of the second universal joint, connected to the first arm element pivotally about a second pivoting axis and connected to the second coupling means pivotally about a third pivoting axis. Each of the three corners of the ternary gear element is realized in the form of a bearing eye and penetrated by one of the three pivoting axes oriented parallel to one another. The second coupling means, in contrast, is realized in the form of a rigid connecting brace, one connecting brace end of which is connected to the first coupling means pivotally about the third pivoting axis and the other connecting brace end of which is connected to the second arm element pivotally about an additional pivoting axis.

As an alternative to the design and coupling of the above-described second coupling gear, a coordinate alternative solution also proposes to realize the coupling gear with a first and at least one second coupling means that respectively transmits tensile and compressive forces, wherein the first coupling means features a ternary gear element in the form of a rigid triangular structure, on the corners of which the first coupling means is respectively mounted pivotally about a pivoting axis such that the coupling means is connected to the spindle nut unit pivotally about a first pivoting axis, which corresponds to a pivoting axis of the second universal joint, connected to the second arm element rather than the above-described first arm element pivotally about a second pivoting axis and connected to one end of the second coupling means pivotally about a third pivoting axis, wherein the second coupling means is on the other end connected to the first arm element pivotally about a pivoting axis.

Due to the inventive utilization of a ternary gear element, i.e. a rigid triangular structure, for realizing the second coupling gear, a number of advantages over the initially described known solutions is achieved. On the one hand, the compact, rigid triangular structure makes it possible to increase the motion travel, as well as to simultaneously relieve the motor drives and to reduce their working strokes. On the other hand, maximum static load moments also occur over the entire motion travel of the third axis in certain poses of the articulated arm robot, namely each time the second arm is in the horizontal position, as well as in an otherwise completely retracted or extended pivoting state of the first arm, wherein these maximum load moments can be absorbed significantly well due to the sound lever ratios of the coupling gear, which are approximately constant over the motion travel of the axis.

Furthermore, another degree of freedom is achieved for a system optimization due to the additional coupling point in the ternary element such that the system can be better adapted to the angular range to be used with respect to the load minimization, the motion travel and the linearity of the motion.

According to the following detailed description with reference to a concrete exemplary embodiment, the linear actuators are respectively realized in the form of a spindle drive with an electromotively driven spindle nut unit that is engaged with a spindle in the form of threaded rod. The respective coupling gear engaged with the linear actuator can respectively convert the translatory motion of the spindle nut unit being electromotively driven along the spindle into a rotatory motion about the second or third pivoting axis. The six-element design of the second coupling gear, which is preferably realized in the form of a Watt-type chain and serves for pivotally moving the second arm element, makes it possible to significantly enlarge the workspace accessible to the robot arm. This particularly concerns the ability of the robot arm to access regions near the floor and the robot base.

The first arm element of the robot arm arrangement preferably is functionally connected to a hydraulic cylinder unit that is pivotally supported on the base in order to thereby absorb the holding and supporting forces acting upon the first arm element. In this way, the spindle drives of both linear actuators preferably can he realized identically. This advantageously simplifies the robot actuation and also lowers the procurement costs.

A base, which is rotatable about the first axis in a motor driven fashion and preferably realized in the form of a live ring arrangement with an external gearing, into which two mutually tensioned driving pinions engage, is used in order to mount the inventive robot arrangement pivotally about the first axis that typically corresponds to the vertical axis. A thusly realized tensioned gear allows a backlash-free transmission of the driving torque to the base with the robot arrangement positioned thereon.

The robot arrangement is largely designed in a modular fashion. Second arm elements with different lengths can be used depending on the respective operating conditions if a corresponding mechanical interface is provided in the region of the second arm element. In this way, circular workspaces with a radius of up to 5 m can be realized depending on the respective requirements.

Another important aspect is the design of the central hand, which is required for gripping and manipulating tasks and arranged on the manipulator end region of the robot arm.

This central hand should be as compact and lightweight as possible in order to optimize the maximum load carrying capacity of the robot arrangement. The central hand is realized in the form of an independent module, the drive and actuation of which merely require an electric signal and energy supply, i.e. all torque motors required for realizing rotatory motions are integrated into the central hand. In this case, the central hand has three motor-driven pivoting axes that are oriented orthogonal to one another and one pivoting axis of which can be driven via two spatially separated gears by a common driving motor with the aid of a respective belt drive. The two other pivoting axes can be respectively driven by a driving motor arranged axially in the pivoting axes.

With respect to further details of the inventive robot arrangement, we also refer to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures, wherein the inventive drive concept, on which the robot arrangement, is based, is described in greater detail below with reference to this exemplary embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawings without thereby restricting the general inventive idea. In these drawings:

FIGS. 1 a, b, c show side views of inventively designed vertical articulated arm robots,

FIGS. 2 a, b, c show schematic illustrations of the mounting and positioning of the base realized in the form of a live ring arrangement,

FIGS. 3 a, b, c show perspective views of the coupling gear arrangements,

FIG. 4 shows an illustration of part of the second arm element,

FIGS. 5a, b show a perspective view and a se through a central hand, and

FIGS. 6a, b show illustrations of the operating range of the inventively designed robot arrangement.

WAYS FOR REALIZING THE INVENTION, COMMERCIAL APPLICABILITY

FIG. 1a shows a side view of an inventively designed vertical articulated arm robot with a robot arm that is arranged rotatably about a first axis A1 corresponding to the vertical axis and comprises two robot arm elements 2, 3, which are serially arranged behind one another in the form of a kinematic chain, as well as a central hand 4Z, which is arranged on the end of the second arm element 3 and serves for handling and positioning a not-shown payload. The person P illustrated as a size comparison is intended to elucidate the dimensions of the robot, to which FIGS. 6a and b also refer further below.

The first of the two arm elements 2 is attached to the base pivotally about a second axis A2 that is oriented orthogonal to the first axis A1. The second axis A2 is preferably oriented horizontally. The second arm element 3 is attached to the first arm element 2 on the end of the first arm element 2, which lies opposite of the base 1, pivotally about a third axis A3 that is oriented parallel to the second axis A2.

A linear actuator 4 serves for dynamically pivoting the first arm element 2 about the horizontal second axis A2, wherein said linear actuator is functionally connected to the base 1 on the one hand and to the first arm element on the other hand by means of a first coupling gear K1. The first linear actuator 4 is realized in the form of a spindle drive and features an electromotively driven spindle nut unit 41 that is engaged with a spindle 42 in the form of a threaded rod, the lower end of which is mounted on the base 1, which is rotatable about the first axis A1, pivotally about a pivoting axis SA4 that is oriented parallel to the second axis A2.

The linear actuator 4 realized in the form of a spindle drive features a belt drive 4R that is driven by means of a servomotor 4S and engaged with the spindle nut unit 41 such that the spindle nut unit 41 can be moved linearly upward or downward along the thread of the spindle 42 the form of threaded rod 42 depending on the rotating direction of the servomotor.

The linear motion of the spindle nut unit 41 along the spindle 42 is converted into a rotatory motion of the first arm element 2 about the second axis 2 with the aid of the coupling or lever gear K1. For this purpose, the first coupling or lever gear K1 features a first and a second coupling means 6, 7 that respectively transmit tensile and compressive forces, wherein the first coupling means 6 is on the one hand directly or indirectly mounted on the base 1 pivotally about a pivoting axis SA41 that is oriented parallel to the second axis A2, preferably by means of a single-axis pivot bearing, and on the other hand connected to the spindle nut unit 41 of the first linear actuator 4 pivotally about a pivoting axis SA40. The pivoting axis SA41, about which the first coupling means 6 is pivotally mounted on the base 1, is spaced apart from the pivoting axis SA4, about which the spindle 42 is pivotally mounted on the base 1, by a lateral distance in order to thereby generate the highest torque possible for moving the spindle 42 at the location of the spindle nut unit 42, as well as to simultaneously minimize the tensile stress along the spindle, and to prevent collisions with other components of the robot arm during the motion of the spindle drive with the first coupling gear connected thereto.

The second coupling means 7 of the first coupling gear K1 is on the one hand connected to the spindle nut unit 41 pivotally about the pivoting axis SA40 and on the other hand mounted on the first arm element 2 pivotally about a pivoting axis SA42 that is oriented parallel to the second axis A2. In order to pivotally mount the second coupling means 7 on the first arm element 2, is likewise advantageous to position the pivoting axis SA42 as far as possible from the second axis A2 along the first arm element 2, i.e. as close as possible to the end of the first arm element 2 lying opposite of the second axis A2, in order to respectively generate and transmit the highest torque possible. The arrangement of the coupling points of the individual components, which are connected to one another into a kinematic chain, naturally have to be chosen in dependence on their dimensions and lengths, particularly in dependence on the spindle length.

Both coupling means 6, 7 are connected to the spindle nut unit 41 by means of a common universal joint 4K such that the linear motion carried out by the spindle nut unit 41 can be converted into a pivoting motion of the first arm element 2 about the second axis A2 in a largely loss-free fashion, i.e. without potential canting. Due to the optimally spaced-apart arrangement of the kinematic coupling points of the first coupling gear K1 at the locations of the pivoting axes SA41, SA42 and of the universal joint 4K, at the location of the spindle nut unit 41, the tensile force acting upon the spindle 42 as a result of the motor-driven motion of the spindle nut unit 41 can be respectively reduced or minimized.

In addition, a hydraulic cylinder unit 10, as well as a pressure accumulator 11 for supplying the hydraulic cylinder unit 10, is advantageously arranged on the base 1 that is rotatable about a first axis A1. The hydraulic cylinder unit 10 is on the one hand supported on the base 1, on which it is also mounted pivotally about a pivoting axis SA10. On the other hand, the hydraulic cylinder unit 10 is connected to an extension 12, which is rigidly connected to the first arm element 2, rotatably about the pivoting axis SA12. The hydraulic cylinder unit 10 therefore serves as a weight compensation system and is capable of reducing the load of the motor-driven spindle nut unit 41, as well as of lowering the energy consumption of the linear actuator 4.

The drive for initiating dynamic pivoting motions of the second arm element 3 about the third axis A3 is realized with a second linear actuator 5, which merely differs from the first linear actuator 4 with respect to its length, and a second coupling gear K2, which is functionally connected to the second linear actuator and realized as a six-element coupling gear, preferably in the form of a Watt-type chain. The second linear actuator 5 is realized in the form of a spindle drive analogous to the first linear actuator 4 and features a motor-driven spindle nut unit 51 that is engaged with a spindle 52 in the form of a threaded rod. For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that a belt drive 5R, which is functionally connected to the spindle nut unit 51, is also driven by a servomotor 5S in this case. A significant advantage of the inventive robot arrangement can be seen in that identical linear actuators can be used for the first and the second linear actuator. This significantly reduces the manufacturing costs in the series production.

The linear motion carried out by the spindle nut unit 51 along the spindle 52 in dependence on the rotating direction of the servomotor 5S is converted into a rotational or pivoting motion about the third axis A3, by means of which the second arm element 3 can be pivoted relative to the first arm element 2 about the third axis A3, with the aid of the second coupling gear K2.

For this purpose, the spindle 52 forming part of the second coupling gear is with its lower spindle end mounted pivotally about the pivoting axis SA5, which is identical to the second axis A2, such that the spindle 52 is directly supported on the base 1. As a result, pivoting motions about the axis 2 and the axis 3 are on the one hand completely decoupled from one another and tensile forces acting upon the spindle 52 can on the other hand be directly absorbed by the pedestal of the robot, i.e. by the base 1. Drive-related tensile stresses caused by the linear actuator 5 do not occur in other supporting structures of the motion kinematics of the robot.

The second coupling gear K2 furthermore comprises a first coupling means 8 that is realized in the form of a rigid triangular structure, namely a so-called ternary gear element. A ternary gear element features three coupling points that are rigidly connected to one another by means of connecting braces and preferably realized in the form of spective bearing eyes. FIG. 1a merely shows a side view of the first coupling means 8, but its three-dimensional n is illustrated in FIG. 3b , which is described in greater detail further below. The first coupling means 8 is on the one hand mounted on the first arm element pivotally about a pivoting axis SA51 that is oriented parallel to the second axis A2 and on the other hand rigidly connected to the spindle nut unit 51 of the second linear actuator 5 pivotally about at least the pivoting axis SA50 by means of a universal joint 5K. An additional pivoting axis SA53 is provided on the coupling means 8, wherein the coupling means 9 is on the one hand mounted pivotally about said additional pivoting axis and on the other hand connected to the second arm element 3 pivotally about the axis SA52. The six-element design of the second coupling gear K2 is a result of the number of individual elements that are respectively connected to one another by means of articulations or pivoting axes. With respect to the illustration of the individual elements E1-E6, we refer to FIG. 1 b, which shows the same design, as the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1a and is merely supplemented with the identification of the individual components E1-E6 resulting in the six-element design of the Watt-type chain of the second coupling gear K2. The spindle represents the first individual component E1, along which the second component E2 in the form of the spindle nut unit 51 can be longitudinally moved bidirectionally. The third individual component E3 in the form of the rigid triangular structure is connected to the second individual component E2 in the form of the spindle nut unit 51 pivotally about the pivoting axis SA50, wherein the third individual component is also connected to the first arm element 2 pivotally about the pivoting axis SA51 and connected to the second coupling means 9 representing the fourth individual component E4 pivotally about the pivoting axis SA53. The fourth individual component E4 in turn is connected to the fifth individual component E5 in the form of the second arm element 3 pivotally about the axis SA52. The second arm element 3 ultimately is connected to the first arm element 2 corresponding to the sixth individual component E6 pivotally about the third axis A3.

All coupling points, lengths and connecting angles of the second coupling gear K2 are adapted to one another in such a way that the spindle force acting along the spindle 52 is minimized and no collisions at all can occur between the motor-driven first and second coupling gears. For this purpose, the coupling means of the two coupling gears are respectively realized in a fork-like or coupler-like fashion as described in greater detail further below such that the force transmission, as well as the rigidity of the respective coupling gear construction, can be significantly increased.

The universal joints 4K, 5K of the first and the second linear actuator also ensure a power transmission and torque transmission that is free of losses, i.e. free of any canting, while the pivoting motions are carried out so as to prevent loads other than tensile or compressive forces from being transmitted along the spindles. The universal joints respectively have two pivoting axes that are oriented orthogonal to one another, wherein one of said pivoting axes SA40, SA50 is respectively oriented, parallel to the second axis A2. Both pivoting axes of the universal joint are respectively oriented orthogonal to the spindle axis of the linear actuator.

As an alternative, to the above-described preferred design of the second coupling gear K2 in the form of a six-element Watt-type chain, it would also be conceivable to realize K2 equivalently in the form of a so-called six-element Stephenson-type chain that is schematically indicated in FIG. 1 c. Except for the design and the geometric arrangement of the above-described first coupling means 8, the robot arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1c remains otherwise unchanged.

In this case, the modified coupling means 8′ is likewise realized in the form of a rigid triangular structure that features single-axis articulated connections, which are respectively realized in the form of bearing eyes, on its triangle points. The triangular structure 8′ now is directly connected to the second arm element 3 pivotally about the pivoting axis SA52 and supported on the first arm element 2 in an articulated fashion about the pivoting axes SA53′ and SA51 by means of the modified coupling means 9′.

FIGS. 2a-c respectively show top views of the base 1 that is realized in the form of a live ring with an external thread and supported rotatably about the first axis A1. In order to ensure a stable support of the base 1, as well as a backlash-free transmission of a driving torque to the base 1 in the form of a live ring, two driving pinions 13, 14, which are mechanically tensioned relative to one another, are provided and accommodated within a common gear housing in the form of a tensioned gear 15. It is furthermore important that both driving pinions 13, 14 are exactly and independently of one another attached to the outer periphery of the base 1 in the form of a live ring such that the gear wheels of a driving pinions exactly mesh with those of the live ring. The backlash-free meshing of the engaged gear rims is a result of the mutual tensioning of the two gears. This arrangement can be primarily attributed to dynamic effects. It should be prevented that the tooth flank clearance leads to inaccuracies in the motion of the load during a reversal, i.e. during a change of the rotating direction.

Due to the arrangement with two mutually tensioned driving pinions 13, 14, a special positioning device, which allows translatory and also rotatory positioning, is required for the tensioned gear 15.

In a first step, a driving pinion 14 initially is exactly engaged with the tooth flank structure of the live ring due to a translation of the gear housing as illustrated in FIG. 2b whereas the second driving pinion 13 remains spaced apart from the live ring structure. In the next step, the tensioned gear 15 including the driving pinion 13 is rotated about the rotational axis of the driving pinion 14 on the tooth flank contour of the live ring 1 as illustrated in FIG. 2c . This arrangement, in which the rotational axis, about which the gear housing or the tensioned gear 15 is respectively rotated, and the rotational axis of the driving pinion 14 lie on top of one another, i.e. are identical, makes it possible to adjust the reference circles of both driving pinions 13, 14 to the reference circle of the live ring 1 independently of one another and to thereby ensure perfect meshing of the gear wheel pairs.

The positioning device required for the above-described positioning process comprises specially adapted bearing shells, namely outer and inner bearing shells that respectively have different radii and are jointly arranged on guide rails such that they can be displaced in a translatory fashion. After suitable translatory positioning, the outer bearing shells are fixed and the inner bearing shells are rotated in a suitable fashion. Once both driving pinions exactly engage into the live ring, both bearing shells are rigidly connected to one another.

This ensures that both driving pinions 13, 14 are exactly engaged with the gear rim structure of the live ring. Consequently, it is possible to transmit driving torques up to 60 kNm for moving the own weight of the robot arrangement and, in particular, for handling and positioning payloads up to 4 t with the aid of the robot arrangement.

FIG. 3a shows a perspective view of a robot arm, which makes it possible to gather the three-dimensional design of the first and second coupling gear. Torsional loads, which are oriented along the first and second arm element 2, 3 and have to be at least partially absorbed by the two coupling gears K1 and K2, occur in addition to the lifting forces during the handling of payloads, in particular, with the aid of a central hand 4Z that is arbitrarily rotatable about three axes. In order to ensure a sufficient load carrying capacity and, in particular, a sufficient torsional rigidity within the two coupling gears K1, K2, the coupling means for interconnecting the respective coupling gears are designed in a clip-shaped or fork-shaped fashion.

In order to respectively support or absorb the load moments acting along the robot arm, the first and the second arm element 2, 3 are respectively realized in the form of double braces that extend parallel to one another as illustrated in the perspective view according to FIG. 3a . In addition, the first and the second coupling means 6, 7 are respectively realized in the form of double rockers and respectively feature two connecting points or bearing eyes 61, 71 per pivoting axis, by means of which torsional moments acting along the individual coupling means can be absorbed. The individual coupling means 6, 7 realized in the form of double rockers have such a constructive design that they can be manufactured in a particularly simple fashion. The individual connecting points in the form of bearing eyes, as well as the coupling means 6, 7 themselves, are respectively realized in the form of individual flame-cut parts that are joined by means of subsequent welding. In this case, the welding seams of respectively positioned in slightly stressed regions of the coupling means realized in the form of double rockers; see FIG. 3 c.

In addition to the high torsional rigidity, the coupling means 6, 7 realized in the form of double rockers allow the most compact and space-saving assembly possible of both linear actuators 4, 5 for driving the individual arm elements 2, 3 and furthermore ensure that the linear actuators including the coupling gears connected thereto do not collide with one another while the robot is used.

FIG. 3a furthermore makes it possible to gather the design and arrangement of the second coupling gear K2, particularly the coupling means 8 realized in the form of a rigid triangular structure that is illustrated individually in FIG. 3b , in which the additional pivoting axis SA51 is provided. The coupling means 8 realized in the form of a ternary gear element has an open, three-dimensional structure and is respectively composed of forks or double braces 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, to which bearing eyes L1, L2, L3 are welded. In this case, the coupling means 8 comprises an internal structural space, into which, e.g., the servomotor of the second linear actuator 5 can penetrate in a collision-free fashion in the maximally extended position of the robot arrangement due to the open design of the fork or brace construction.

Furthermore, the coupling means 8, which is realized in the form of a double brace, engages on the second arm element 3 at four bearing points 16 together with the second coupling means 9, which is realized in the form of a double fork and illustrated in FIG. 3c . This special constructive design of the second coupling gear K2 ensures a high rigidity and respectively allows the introduction or absorption of torsional moments that respectively can be absorbed or are caused by the torsional rigidity of the lower first coupling gear K1.

FIG. 4 shows the individual components of the second arm element 3 in the form of a perspective view. The double arm rocker 31 features bearing eyes 33, 34 for respectively arranging the second arm element 3 pivotally relative to the first arm element 2 and the second coupling gear K2. The bearing eyes 33 serve for pivoting the second arm element 3 about the third axis A3 and the bearing eyes 34 serve for coupling the second coupling means 9 of the second coupling gear K2 pivotally about the pivoting axis SA52. In order to ensure the modularity of the robot system, robot arms 32 of different lengths can be rigidly attached to the double arm rocker 31 in a detachable fashion with the aid of a mounting means 17 in dependence on the respective intended use. Another mounting means 18 likewise makes it possible to detachably attach, e.g., a central hand 4Z of the type illustrated in FIG. 5 a, b.

The central hand 4Z represents an independent module that can be replaced with a simpler solution such as, e.g., a palletizing hand that suffices for many applications. The central hand 4Z shown is realized in the form of a classic central hand that is characterized by the following attributes:

A driving motor 19 is connected to a U-shaped transmission element 21 via a gear 20 in order to rotationally drive said transmission element about the fourth axis A4. The gear 20 features a hollow shaft such that energy supply lines and data cables for the remaining drives of the central hand 4Z can be routed through this hollow shaft. An additional motor 22 is arranged within the U-shaped transmission element 21 and initiates a motion about the fifth axis A5 via an additional gear 23. The gear 23 consists of two opposing gear units that are respectively driven by a common servomotor 22 with the aid of a belt drive. This arrangement makes it possible to realize the hand axis particularly narrow.

The opposing gear units 23 of the fifth axis A5 drive an additional U-shaped transmission element 24, in which the gear of the sixth axis A6 is mounted. The motors 25, 26 of the fifth and sixth axis A5, A6 are respectively located within the two transmission elements 21, 24 and thereby contribute to the very small dimensions of the hand axis,

The inventive robot arrangement represents a robust and modularly variable construction that can be individually assembled in accordance with different payload tasks.

FIG. 6a shows a top view of an inventively designed vertical articulated arm robot, the maximum operating range of which for handling payloads up to four tons may be as large as 5.5 m. Due to the size of the robot arrangement, a region around the first axis Al with a radius of about 1.5 m is excluded.

FIG. 6b shows the maximum vertical extent of the working range A that may reach a length up to 4 m in the vertical direction. The dimensions of individual robot components can be gathered from FIG. 6b . For this purpose, distances are indicated in meters along the horizontal axis and the vertical axis. For example, the first arm element 2 has a length of 2.5 in measured from the position of the first axis, which has a height of 1 m in the illustration shown. The horizontal length of the second arm element 3 approximately corresponds to 2.5 in.

In order to provide a robot system with a sufficiently high rigidity required for achieving a high positioning accuracy, a conventionally designed robot would have to be constructed in a very massive and heavy fashion.

In addition, the handling of heavy payloads requires very high driving torques about the individual robot axes, but such high driving torques cannot be realized by installing motors with corresponding gears of the type currently available on the market within the individual axes. These are the reasons why the inventive kinematic design described above was chosen in a large robot, in which the vertical axis, i.e. the first axis A1, was directly defined with the aid of a mutually tensioned pair of driving pinions that is engaged with a live ring. The second and third robot axis A2, A3 are accordingly driven by means of linear actuators that convert their advance motion realized by means of coupling gears into a rotational motion of the axes. The coupling gears connected to the linear actuators are realized in a lightweight and torsionally rigid fashion due to their design in the form of a double brace and furthermore capable of absorbing and withstanding high loads.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   -   Base

2 First arm element

3 Second arm element

31 Double arm rocker

32 Arm tube, tube

33, 34 Bearing eyes

4Z Central hand

4 First linear actuator

41 Spindle nut unit

42 Spindle, threaded rod

4S Servomotor

4R Belt drive

4K Universal joint

5 Second linear actuator

51 Spindle nut unit

42 Spindle, threaded rod

5S Servomotor

5R Belt drive

5K Universal

6 First coupling means

61 Connecting points, bearing eyes

7 Second coupling means

71 Connecting points, bearing eyes

8, 8′ First coupling means, rigid triangular structure

9, 9′ Second coupling means

10 Hydraulic cylinder unit

11 Pressure accumulator

12 Extension

13, 14 Driving pinion.

15 Tensioned gear

16 Bearing point

17, 18 Mounting means

19 Driving motor

20 Gear

21 Transmission element

22 Motor

23 Gear

24 Transmission element

25 Motor

26 Motor

A1 First axis

A2 Second axis

A3 Third axis

A4 Fourth axis

A5 Fifth, axis

A6 Sixth axis

SA4 Pivoting axis

SA40 Pivoting axis

SA41 Pivoting axis

SA42 Pivoting axis

SA5 Pivoting axis

SA50 Pivoting axis

SA51 Pivoting axis

SA52 Pivoting axis

SA10 Pivoting axis

SA12 Pivoting axis

SA53 Pivoting axis

SA53′ Pivoting axis

P Person 

1-18. (canceled)
 19. An articulated arm robot for handling a payload, comprising: a robot arm which is mounted on a base that is rotatable about a first axis; at least two arms that are arranged in a kinematic chain, wherein the first arm element is mounted on the base and is pivotable about a second axis that is oriented orthogonal to the first axis and a second arm is attached to the first arm element and is pivotable about a third axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis; and a hand attached to an end of the kinematic chain; and wherein a first linear actuator pivots the first arm about the second axis and is connected to the base by a first coupling gear and is connected to the first arm; and a second linear actuator which pivots the second arm about the third axis and is connected to the base, the first arm and the second arm by a second coupling gear, and the first and the second linear actuators power spindle drives and include a motor-driven spindle nut that is engaged with a spindle comprising a threaded rod, and the spindle is being mounted to pivot about a pivoting axis oriented parallel to the second axis; the first coupling gear is pivotable and is connected to the motor-driven spindle nut of the first linear actuator by a first universal joint and the second coupling gear is pivotable and connected to the motor-driven spindle of the second linear actuator by a second universal joint; the first and the second universal joints have a pivot axis oriented parallel to the second axis, as well as a pivot axis oriented orthogonal to the second axis; the second coupling gear includes a first coupling and a second coupling that respectively transmit tensile and compressive forces; the first coupling includes a ternary gear in a triangular structure having corners, the corners of which the first coupling are respectively mounted to pivot about a pivoting axis such that the first coupling is connected to the spindle nut to pivot about a first pivot axis corresponding to a pivot axis of the second universal joint which is connected to the first arm to pivot about a second pivoting axis and is connected to the second coupling to pivot about a third pivoting axis; and the second coupling includes a rigid connecting brace with one end being connected to the first coupling pivotally about the third pivot axis and another connecting brace end is connected to the second arm element to pivot about a pivot axis.
 20. A device according to claim 19, the first coupling gear is pivotally connected to the motor-driven spindle nut of the first linear actuator by a first universal joint and the second coupling gear is pivotally connected to the motor-driven spindle nut of the second linear actuator by a second universal joint; the first and the second universal joints have a pivot axis oriented parallel to the second axis, and a pivot axis that is oriented orthogonal to the second axis; the second coupling gear includes a first and at least one second coupling that transmits tensile and compressive forces, wherein the first coupling is a ternary gear which is part of a rigid triangular structure, having corners on which the first coupling is mounted to pivot about a pivot axis is so that the coupling is connected to the spindle nut which is pivotable about a first pivot axis corresponding to a pivoting axis of the second universal joint, is connected to the second arm which is pivotable about a second pivoting axis and is connected to the second coupling to pivot about a third pivot axis and is connected to the first arm element which pivots about a pivot axis.
 21. The device according to claim 19, wherein: the first coupling gear includes first and a second couplings that respectively transmit tensile and compressive forces, wherein the first coupling is mounted on the base to pivot about a pivot axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis and is connected to the spindle nut of the first linear actuator, and wherein the second coupling is connected to the spindle nut of the first linear actuator and is mounted on the first arm element to pivot about a pivoting axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis; and the first and the second couplings are connected to the spindle nut of the first linear actuator by the universal joint.
 22. The device according to claim 20, wherein: the first coupling gear includes first and a second couplings that respectively transmit tensile and compressive forces, wherein the first coupling is mounted on the base to pivot about a pivot axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis and is connected to the spindle nut of the first linear actuator, and wherein the second coupling is connected to the spindle nut of the first linear actuator and is mounted on the first arm element to pivot about a pivoting axis that is oriented parallel to the second axis; and the first and the second couplings are connected to the spindle nut of the first linear actuator by the universal joint.
 23. The device according to claim 19, wherein the spindle of the first linear actuator is pivotally mounted on the base.
 24. The device according to claim 20, wherein the spindle of the first linear actuator is pivotally mounted on the base.
 25. The device according to claim 21, wherein the spindle of the first linear actuator is pivotally mounted on the base.
 26. The device according to claim 21, wherein the pivoting axis, about which the spindle of the first linear actuator is pivotally mounted, the pivoting axis, about which the second coupling of the first linear actuator is pivotally mounted, and the second axis are arranged along the base are parallel to one another and are separated from one another.
 27. The device according to claim 23, wherein the pivoting axis, about which the spindle of the first linear actuator is pivotally mounted, the pivoting axis, about which the second coupling of the first linear actuator is pivotally mounted, and the second axis are arranged along the base are parallel to one another and are separated from one another.
 28. The device according to claim 19, wherein the pivoting axis, about which the spindle of the second linear actuator is pivotally mounted, coincides with the second axis.
 29. The device according to claim 20, wherein the pivoting axis, about which the spindle of the second linear actuator is pivotally mounted, coincides with the second axis.
 30. The device according to claim 21, wherein the pivoting axis, about which the spindle of the second linear actuator is pivotally mounted, coincides with the second axis.
 31. The device according to claim 23, wherein the pivoting axis, about which the spindle of the second linear actuator is pivotally mounted, coincides with the second axis.
 32. The device according to claim 26, wherein the pivoting axis, about which the spindle of the second linear actuator is pivotally mounted, coincides with the second axis.
 33. The device according to claim 19, wherein the base comprises a ring with external gearing which is engaged with tensioned driving pinions.
 34. The device according to claim 20, wherein the base comprises a ring with external gearing which is engaged with tensioned driving pinions.
 35. The device according to claim 23, wherein the base comprises a ring with external gearing which is engaged with tensioned driving pinions.
 36. The device according to claim 26, wherein the base comprises a ring with external gearing which is engaged with tensioned driving pinions.
 37. The device according to claim 28, wherein the base comprises a ring with external gearing which is engaged with tensioned driving pinions.
 38. The device according to claim 33, wherein the externally geared live ring has a diameter of at least 2 m.
 39. The device according to claim 19, wherein: the hand is a module including a drive controlled by an electric signal from energy supply, the hand includes three motor-driven pivoting axes that are oriented orthogonal to one another with one of pivoting axes being driven via two spatially separated gears by a common driving motor and a belt drive and with two other of the pivoting axes being driven by a driving motor disposed axially in the pivoting axes.
 40. The device according to claim 19, wherein the first and the second arms comprise double braces having two separate force transmission paths disposed along an arm between coupling points of the first and second arms.
 41. The device according to claim 40, wherein the second arm comprises a double arm rocker, on which one arm tube of a selected length is mounted as a module is rigidly mounted and is detachable from the mounting.
 42. The device according to claim 41, wherein the pivot axis, about which the second arm is pivotally connected to the second coupling or to the first coupling, and the third axis are separated by a distance along the double arm rocker.
 43. The device according to claim 19, wherein the coupling of the first and the second coupling gear comprises double forks including force transmission paths along a respective coupling between coupling points of the coupling.
 44. The device according to claim 20, wherein the ternary gear is open and comprises forks or double braces, wherein bearing apertures, through one of the first, second, third pivot axes are attached to ends of the forks or to the double braces.
 45. The device according to claim 33, wherein two mutually tensioned driving pinions arm which are part of a tensioned gear are mounted to translatable and rotatable relative to the ring by a positioning unit.
 46. The device according to claim 45, wherein the positioning unit comprises bearings having different radii, with each inner bearing shell being arranged positioned to rotate relative to the outer bearing shell.
 47. The device according to claim 19, wherein the first arm is connected to a hydraulic cylinder with one side thereof being supported on the base to be pivotable about a pivot axis, is that the hydraulic cylinder pivots about a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis is parallel to the second axis.
 48. The device according to claim 19, wherein the first arm has a length between 0.5 m and 4 m; and the second arm has a length between 0.5 m and 4 m. 